I can't believe I've been out of high school for 12 years. I graduated with the same people I went to kindergarten with. Small town, a lot of us stayed in touch. I can go years without seeing or talking to my hometown girl friends, but then when we get together, its so easy and the conversation just flows. This weekend Gary and I trucked Harper the 7 hours south to Danville KY for my friend Crystal's wedding. It was a long drive, but Harper did really well. She slept most of the way both there and back. Good baby! Here are a few pics. We had a great time and she had it at this gorgeous farm outside of our town. It was really nice to get caught up with some great friends and to see Crystal so so happy. This week I have to get back into training mode, I too my rest week a little too literally!Look at those chubby cheeks!!!

First off I started the 100 pushup challenge yesterday! Anyone care to join me? I've attempted it before, but never really gotten very far. I fully intend to complete it this time and have a few friends on Facebook doing it too, so we can check in on each other. I can only do 8 measly boy pushups. So, I hope by the end I can do at least 50 off my knees. I can't imagine I'll be able to do 100, but 50 off knees and 50 with knees would be great.

And then this morning I bit the bullet and went ahead and registered for the towpath marathon. So ready or not I am doing a marathon on Oct 12. My schedule is going to be a little tough b/c I have a half marathon 2 weekends before, when I should be doing my last long run, but I will just taper 2 full weeks. I basically have to run 3 20-24 milers in a row, which will be a bit tough, but I think I will be okay. Wish me luck. New shoes came in the mail today and I slipped them on and took Fonzie for a quick 3 mile run. Nothing like running as the sun slips away for the day.

We are having some lovely weather. I love love love the end of summer, beginning of fall. Even though it means winter isn't very far away. Considering I live in Cleveland, we get about 6 months of winter. Ugh. Anyway, I had a great sunny 18 mile run this weekend. I went out to do 20, but stopped short due to some awful chaffing on my thighs. Gross, I know, but I felt it with every step and couldn't go any further. Boy I can't wait to be rid of the chub rub, which hopefully won't be too much longer b/c I was 138 this morning. Wooohoo. Once I am back to 130 all my clothes will fit, but I do hope I can see the 120s again someday. I am really hoping I can make it to 130 w/o much effort, as I haven't tried that hard yet.

But back to the running. The 18 miler did not feel as strong as I wanted it too. But I did a few things wrong, I didn't eat as much as I should have for breakfast, I need some new shoes and it was quite sunny so I got really hot and drank all my water and went a few miles w/o. So, I just wasn't feeling so hot after 14. I wanted to feel strong out there so that I could come home and sign up for a marathon. But after that performance, I'm still not sure I want to do a full. But then again, why am I running so far if I'm not going to just do it! This week I have to go out of town for a wedding, so I am using it as a rest week and will probably just do 10 miles for my long run, but next weekend I will attempt 20 again.

Happy 4 month bday Harper! We just went to the doctor and Harper is in the 90% percentile for height and weight, weighing in at 15 lbs 10 oz and 25 inches long. Big girl! Healthy girl. She handled her shots like a champ. A lot has changed this month. Harper is pretty much doing something new every day. She can almost sit up unassisted and hates to be held in the cradle position now. She wants to sit up in your lap, sit up on the floor, sit up in her chair, etc. She loves to babble and makes lots of new noises. Her favorite toy is her jangly giraffe from Lamaze, but she just got a Sofie the giraffe teether and is super excited about it. Harper usually sleep from 8 pm to 6 am, which is great. She is taking the bottle better and is really pretty much perfect, how did I get so lucky!

I made it through the 16 miler on Sat. I tried something new, I drank a 5 hour energy before I started. I did this once before a half marathon twp years ago and had a great race, so I thought I'd give it another try. I have to say it really made a difference, I felt wonderful from start to mile 13. Usually I feel pretty bad for 2 or 3 miles and then my running legs kicked in. But this time I was ready to go from first footfall. I made it through 12.54 miles w/o issue, then a friend I was running with got sick, so we walked a mile or so with her. She was having awful cramping. We ended up leaving her at a trail head and came back to pick her up later. So, I had 2.5 mile to get back to my car and then I ended up having some belly cramping and ended up run/walking the last 2.5 miles. Soooo I covered 16 miles, but I didn't run it all. Either way, 16 miles in the training bank. I only ran 3 times last week, I missed one run all together and one got cut short by a case of belly rot, so not the most successfully running week. But I am pleased with how my feet held up on the long run. I have to admit I am still thinking of a marathon. Can you run a marathon on the long run alone....? Some people do. If I do one it will be the towpath instead of Columbus. Logistically it will just be easier. Decisions Decisions.

As a public service announcement I will share with you something I didn't know even existed until my sister and BIL introduced me to it. Sports Cream! How did I never know this wonderful stuff was out there. If you are like me and don't know what it is, it's aspirin cream. I have been rubbing it on my feet after runs and it really helps. Love it.

Oh and guess who finally made it to 140! 10 lbs to go to pre preggo weight.

I got seasons 1 & 2 of Dexter and Weeds from the library and I've been watching way too much tv b/c of this! Both are really good shows. I'm specially fond of weeds. Harper is asleep now so I can wrack up another episode of Dexter. Its a lot of pressure to watch a whole season before its due back at the library.

Tomorrow morning I am running 16 miles, then having breakfast with some friends. It's been a good workout week, but light on the running. I've only been out twice. I was going to run tonight too, but G was busy so it was a no go. I did take Fonzie out once this week and he did really great. He's going to be a good running dog. Weight loss is still trucking along, I was 141 this morning.

I have also been busy this week getting my own little etsy shop started. It's going to be called Harper's Closet and I am going to start off making applique onesies, then move on to pillow dresses and apron skirts. Stay tuned! I don't even know how to sew, so this is a big undertaking! But it will keep me busy and maybe pull in some extra cash.

For having such great parks and trails. My sister and brother in law came into town this weekend. Tim and I got up early this morning and headed down to the towpath. We started at Boston Store and ran south 3 miles, then back past Boston Store and headed up the trail to Brandywine Falls. We ended up running 14 miles and other than some stomach upsets it was a good run. My feet don't hurt too badly right now, knock on wood. So, now that I have done 14, I feel confident for the half mary at Akron, now I just have to keep that fitness up.

Gary is great b/c he watches Harper for me every Sat so I can get my long run in. He sacrifices sleeping in (which he llloooovveeess to do) to get up around 8 with her instead. All in all it amounts to about 6 hours b/c I drive about 20-30 to where we run and we usually have breakfast afterwards. These weekly long runs allow me to feel like I still have a social life and some athletic conditioning. So, I am so happy that he does this for me. But please observe what he did to my poor little baby while I was gone this past Sat...sigh...baloney face.Anybody besides me watching the new show - More to Love? It's a plus size dating show. If so, is it just me or is the "bachelor" totally creepy! I don't like him. Oh and speaking of more to love, I was 143 this morning, thank you scales gawds.

About weight loss that is. I did really well in June, but kind of fell off in July. I was down to the low 140s at the end of July, but have managed to gain a few lbs back. I really want to be back into the 130s asap, I have high hopes it will help my running improve. Ultimately I need to hit 125, but I know that will probably not happen again until I wean Harper. Anywho. Starting today I am going to write down everything I eat. I am going to do that through August, if it doesn't help, well then I will have to go to online food logging and calorie counting, which I loathe. So, hopefully just writing it in a notebook and being more mindful will help. Also, putting my weight here in numbers I think will help, shame me into getting back down, LOL. No offense to anyone who sees my weight and rolls their eyes and wants to tell me to shove it. I have clothes that fit me from 125-133ish, not for 146! So, wish me luck. I have a wedding to go to on Aug 29th that will have a lot of high school friends at it. I really hope to be 140 by then. You might think 6 lbs is a lot to lose by then, but my weight has been fluctuating from 143-146 for a week, so it could just be 3 lbs to lose and some bloat.

As I said my runs are still a struggle. I get through them, I get my miles in, but I am having very few runs that I define as a good run. A good run to me is not necessarily fast (a relative term at this point) it's a run that I can get through and feel strong and like I could keep going when I am done. That happens maybe once a week for me. And I am blessed with the best summer running weather ever! I think a few things factor into this, 1 is my weight and 2 is that up until this post pregnancy running, I never ran alone. I always met friends, I always chatted my way through runs. Now I only run with someone once a week (my long runs) and I have nothing to do but be alone with my head and for some reason my head tells me that I should walk a lot on my runs. Grrr. I make it through my long runs without walking and yet I can't get through a 4-5 miler without walking. I seem to go out to fast, crash, walk a little, then run again. Oh well it is what it is. I told myself today that I am giving myself until 139 to still do these little walk breaks, then I am going to really concentrate on pushing myself. My feet...well that's just a whole different story. I basically hobble around, but it's manageable pain at this point.

Still haven't gotten on my bike, my mom was here last week and I never got around to it. soon, soon.

Harper is doing awesome. She is so so chatty. I love just sitting and "talking" to her. I wish she could stay this size forever.

You know I really don't miss sleeping in. I always was a bit of a morning person. But I love getting up at like 7 in the morning, Harper super happy b/c she just got up and sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee. Good times. This morning sitting on my porch we saw a deer in our front yard! Which is both cute but also sad b/c they are in town. Which is of course not good for the deer. But boy were my dogs confused.

Last night Harper slept from 8ish to 6 am! I call that sleeping through the night. Okay, when I got back from a party (pure romance party, oh sheesh, I just got shaving cream!) at 10, I fed her, but she never woke up it was a dream feed. But even 10 to 6 is great. She had a big couple of days. On Thurs we took her to her first movie! I had been wanting to do this, I figured if I saw something a few weeks old during the day no one would be there, so what would it matter. We went to see the Orphan and there were only like 2 other people in there. She didn't make a peep and she also didn't go to sleep, which I thought she would. She just stared at the screen mesmerized. I guess I will pick funny movies from now on, certainly didn't mean for her to watch a stupid scary movie. Yesterday we took her to the farmer's market and for the first time pointed outwards in her baby bjorn. She had so much to see and loved it. One of the guys working the stand gave her a mini banana and she just sucked on it and seemed so impressed with herself, also gave her a piece of mango to gum on. She's getting so big.

My mom has been in town since Tuesday, she leaves today. It was great having a visit with her. But also great b/c I got to take 2 really great runs. I ran on Wed and Fri. Like I said I am going to run every other day. Wed I had a great 5.3 mile run right after it stopped raining, perfect weather. I didn't have my garmin b/c the battery had died and it turns out I ran way faster without it! I finished the 5.3 at about a 10:00 pace and that is with stopping at stop lights. So I was pleased with that. On Friday I took Fonzie with me and he ran 3 whole miles with me. Running with a dog is great, but you do have to stop for them to pee sometimes. I find I run really fast with Fonzie, about a 9 min pace, but that we take a few walk breaks, that's okay I'll call it interval training. Then when I got home I took old man Mushi out for his own run, but only .5 miles. But he did really good. I haven't ran with him in a long time b/c he only sprints, but he stayed with me pretty well. I really need to start taking Fonzie for at least a mile a few times a week. He really enjoys it. Tomorrow I am doing 13 miles. I am looking forward to it, my feet still hurt, but it is manageable.

About Me

Mnowac

distance runner attempting to run a marathon in every state, vegetarian foodie, mediocre triathlete, sucky swimmer, mommy to Harper, tea lover, coffee drinker, animal saver, hubby snuggler, race addict, full time working 31 year old living in cleveland